Electric control apparatus



Feb. 7, 195@ H. F. ELLIOTT 2,496,45fi

ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed July 16, 1940 t 5 Shets-Sheet l m mfi 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H F ELLIOTT ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS %2z/e/z/07 f/ /(zrii/ ff/fiaz Feb. 7, 1950 Original Filed July 16, 1940 Feb. 7 1950 H. F. ELLIOTT ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 16, 1940 Feb Z, 150 H. F. ELLIOTT ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed July 16. 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wfil I: u u-1 Feb 7, 1950 H. F. ELLIOTT ELECTRIC CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed July 16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HAROLD F. ELLIQTT,

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Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECT-RIC CONTRQL APPARATUS Harold F. Elliott, San Francisco, Calif.-

Original application July 16, 1940, Serial No. 345,762. Divided. and thisapplication July. 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,410

a physically compact tuning device, which is simple, inexpensive, efficient in operation and of preassembled' unit construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide control apparatus in which a plurality of rotary control units for driving a rotary control shaft, are selectively operated by acommon driving means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical tuning system in' which each of a plurality of control units for driving a rotary control shaft in operative engagement with frequency-changing means, is constructed to move the frequency-changing means through its entire tuning range with a relatively low driving ratio to effect a precision tuning thereof.

A- ieature of this invention is the provision of electrical tuning apparatus embodying rotary operating members in which actuating magnets are utilized to provide a trip action for mechanically engaging the operating members, such members being arranged to be self-engaging after Small magnets may their initial engagement.

thus be efficiently used whereby to appreciably reduce the cost of the tuning apparatus.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of electrical tuning apparatus in which the actuating magnets are equally eiiicient in either A. C. or D. C. systems without the necessity of changing'the pole structures thereof; the structure operated by the magnets being assembled in a manner to eliminate the usual chattering action of the unshaded magnets when used in an A. C. system. Similar magnets'may thus be used for both types of systems whereby to further reduce the cost of the tuning apparatus.

Yet another feature of this invention is found in the provision of a tuning unit in which the operating parts are arranged to form an integral part of the frame means for the unit.

A still further feature of this invention is'the provisionof tuning apparatus'having a plurality ofrotary control units operably engageable with a common drivingmember'through magnetically actuated clutch means, in which the magnets and driving motor'for the common driving memher are concurrently energized by selectively actuated push buttons'located' remotely from the tuning apparatus.

Another feature of this invention is theprovision. of'a tuning device in-which amanually actuated clutchunit for connecting a rotarycontrol unit with a motor driven driving member is arranged to close the energizing circuit of" the motor after its clutching operation,- wherebyto immediately operate-the control unit.

Yet another feature of" thisinvention is the provision of" control apparatus in which a rotary control shaft is rotated in either direction of rotatian by a rotary'control unit operated by a unidirectional motor.

. Fur-ther: objects, features, and advantages'of thisv invention will: become apparent from theiollowing. specification when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention. with parts thereof brokenaway for the purposeof clarity;

Fig. 2 is'anend elevationalview looking toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, withparts thereof broken. away to show the driving. system for. the rotary control means;

Fig. 3. isafragmentary bottom view showing the frequencyechanging. means and its driving engagement with the rotary. control means;

, Fig. 4. is a fragmentary bottom View of the driving motor and itsassociated clutch assembly;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional'view of the driving end of the motor shaft;

FigfG-is a detail'view, partly in section, of the:

gear train for. therotary. control units; This detail is illustrated as removed from the structure.

of Fig. 1. and. rotated toward the reader sufficiently to show the shaft andgear relationship Fig. 8v shows anelectric control circuit for: the

embodiment of Fig. 1..

Referring to the drawings, thepreselector unit shown in Figs. 1,.3, and 4, is seen to include. frame means having endplates 2i .andZLspaced apart by lower tie rods.23.- and an upper tie rod 24. A unidirectional drivingv motor 26: is

mounted on the end'plate 2! by supporting studs extended through the laminated. motor field The motor. is positioned away structure 21.

from plate 2| by spacers 28 and secured in place by nuts 29. End 3| of the motor shaft 32 projects through the plate 2| and has mounted thereon a clutch assembly 33, which includes a steel washer 34, a spring washer 36, a pinion gear 31, a fibre friction washer 38 and an assembly retaining bushing 39. The shaft end 3|, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, is of reduced section and is formed with a flat portion 4| near the outer extremity thereof. The shoulder portion 42 serves as a stop or abutment for the washer 34 to define the inner position of the clutch assembly 33, with the fiat portion 4| frictionally engaging the set screw 40 of the retaining bushing 39 to positively maintain the clutch assembly 33 on the motor shaft 32. Gear 31 is in driven engagement with a gear 43 which is mounted at one end of a supporting shaft 45 for an elongated pinion gear 44 (Figs. 1 and 2). It is contemplated that gear 43 be of fibre or other like composition material. Gear 43 rotates the shaft 45 through a spring connection with a retaining bushing 48. The looped end 41 of the coil spring 58 is connected to a friction screw 48 (Fig. 1) which holds the bushing 46 in a fixed position relative to the pinion shaft 45. The opposite end 49 of the spring is hooked into an aperture formed in the face of the gear 43. The spring connection of the gear 43 to the bushing 46 thus provides a flexible drive between the motor shaft 32 and the pinon-gear shaft 45 and prevents any possible freezing together of the power-transmitting gears H1 and 44 as will be explained later. A steel washer 52 holds the gear 44 loosely upon hub 46 so that it is free to rotate relative to the hub within the limit imposed by spring 50.

The elongated pinion gear 44 is arranged for driving engagement with gear trains 53, one of which is provided for driving each of the rotary control units 54. The units 54 are mounted on a rotary control shaft 51 which is rotatably supported in the end plates 2| and 22. A gear 58 mounted on the shaft 51 near its end 59 is in I operative engagement with a condenser gear 8| which is mounted on the condenser shaft 82 (Figs. 1 and 3). The condenser 83 is supported on the end plate 22 by suitable screw means 84 or the like. Although the condenser 63 is illustrated as being a gang condenser, it is to be understood that other frequency-changing means may be used with equal satisfaction. The motor 26 is thus seen to be in driven engagement with the condenser 53 through the mechanism above described, the extent of condenser rotation for tuning purposes being controlled by rotation of the control shaft 51 in a manner now to be described.

The control units 54 are similarly constructed and are mounted in succession axially of the control shaft 51 (Figs. 1 and 7). Each unit includes a pair of similar gears 85 and 85 mounted on similar bushings 68 and 31 having annularly extending shoulder portions 68. The bushings are broached on the inside thereof in conformance with the flats 69 formed on the control shaft 51, so as to be keyed to the shaft. Gear 65 and washers 1|, three in number, are freely rotatable on the bushing 66; and gear 85' and washers 12, also three in number, are freely rotatable on the bushing 81. The washers 1| and 12 are similar, the projections 13 and 14, respectively, formed thereon extending axially toward each other. The projections 13 and 14 are of a length somewhat less than the thickness of the washers 1| and 12 so that the projections on adjacent washers only are engageable. Thus on rotation of gear 65 the projection 16 integrally formed thereon engages the projection 13 on the next adjacent washer 1|, with the projections or fingers 13 on the remaining washers 1| being successively engaged on continued rotation of the gear 65 until a coupled engagement of the gear 65 is made with the radially extending projection 11 formed on a center washer or adjustable collar member 18 arranged between the bushings 86 and 81. R0- tation of gear provides for a similar operation of the washers 12 into engagement with the projection 11, for a purpose to be later explained. The member 18 is normally freely rotatable on the control shaft 51, so as to be adjustable with a predetermined position in correspondence with a particular control position of the shaft. The adjusted position of the member 18 is maintained by its frictional engagement with the adjacent ends of the bushings 68 and 61, as will be explained. The coupled engagement of both gears 55 and 55 through their respective washers 1| and 12 with the adjustable collar member 18, defines the predetermined control position of the shaft, 51, as will be later fully explained.

As shown best in Fig. '1, the portion of the control shaft 51 carrying the pinion gear 58 is of enlarged section to form a shoulder 19 on the shaft. A spacing member 8| keyed to the shaft 51 and pressed against the shoulder 19 positions the control units 54 and gear 58 away from the end plate 22 while a similar unit 82 spaces the control units and a clamping unit 88 away from the end plate 2|. In assembly, therefore, the spacers 8| and 82 and units 54 are mounted on the reduced section of the shaft 51 and strung over the length thereof in a proper assembly order priorto the positioning of the shaft in the end plates 2| and 22. Conditioning of the units 54 to provide for a predetermined positioning of the center washers 18 relative to the shaft 51 is accomplished by the two washers 83 and 84 which have a spring washer 88 located therebetween. On separation of the washers 83 and 84, the spring is released until the control members 18 for each of the units 54 are permitted to rotate under but slight pressure from the spring 86 on the shaft 51, so as to be freely movable to an adjusted position, as will be explained. On a clamping together of the washers 83 and 84, the bushings 66 and 61 in each control unit are frictionally pressed toward each other to engage opposite sides of the member 18, whereby to clamp the member in the position which it has at the time of such engagement. The clamping action of the washers 83 and 8 is controlled by manipulation of a set screw 81 (Figs. 1 and 7) which is positioned in the thrust member or clamp 88. By virtue of the engagement of pin 89 in the tapered slot 9| formed in the member 88, adjustment of the set screw 81 acts to move the member 88 away from or toward the control units 54 to control the action of the washers 83 and 84 on the spring 86 in a manner which is clearly apparent.

The gears 65 and 65 are engageable with pinions 92 and 83, respectively, which are included in each of the gear trains 53 for the units 54. The pinions 82 and 93 are engageable with each other and arranged so as to rotate the gears 85 and 65 in opposite directions on turnswung-4m:

h1g ofeithen thereof; The" pinions 92- are axially aligned; and freelyrotatable on a*shaft 91'; eachpi-nion 92." (Figs; 1* and 6 is selfi 'spacing andf is-s formed with a spacer portion 94-. and; atztoothed" or gear portion 96', the portion. 94. being. of a. length to position each-of the toothedaportions 96: substantiallyopposite' a gear 65.:foreach of the. control units; Assembly of the pinionsi entire-shaft 91 is maintained by abushing: 98: which is frictionally engageable withthe-shaft. throughfriction screw 99". The threaded ends of the-shaft 9'I are'held by nuts' I02totie-plates: I01 andextend through the frame end plateszfl and 22 the nuts I02 serving to hold the; tiev plates ItI against thepinion: assembly and to" space the pinions from the end plates 2'I and 221 Nuts -I03' on the outside of the 'endlplates 2I'.and' 22 'fixedly mount the shaftSTth'ereon.

The" pinions :93 I are substantially: simllarto the pinions 92 and are axially aligned and freely rotatable on a shaft I04 having threaded ends which'are. mounted' in the'tie plates IOI and-the" end plates 2I and 22 in a-manner similar tothat abovedescribed for the shaft 91. The spacer portions 95. arearranged substantially opposite the gearportions 96 of th'e pinions 92, andthe gear portions I are substantially opposite the gears 65' and engageable therewith. The shafts 91 and I04-are thus'seen' to be parallel to each other, with the pinions 92' and 93 arranged'sub-- stantially' opposite a: corresponding control unit 54 and in engagement with the: gear members 65 and 65 respectively.

Interposed between adjacent pinions 92 is a rocker arm or armature I06 for each unit 5'9- which' is of substantially L'.-shape and freely rotatable'on the shaft 9'1; As shown in Figs. 1-

and 2, the leg portion IOT= of each' armature is arranged in an attractable position relative tothe pole I08 of a magnet I09." The attraction of the armature l 06- by'the magnet l 09 is opposed by a spring I H- which isconnectedat one endto" a projection H2 formed on the armature legportion H3, and at its opposite end to a tie rod H4 which extends longitudinally of the preselector unit and is mounted in the end. plates 2I and 22-. Spring III holdsthe armature in itsnormal-restbr open'position against the tie rod 24 which is suitably; cushioned. A pinion or idling gear I I], comprising a'power transmitting means; is: freely rotatable" onapin II 8 which' is supportedm the leg portion 3', thepinion III being positioned'so as to be'in continuousmesh ing engagement with the pinion- 92. Movement ofthe armature through a distance defined by its angular movement between'the p'olepiece I08" and cushioned tie rod 24- is sufiicient-to move the gear- II'I into and out of engagement with the elongated pinion M" which, as previously explained, is common to all of the-control units'54;

Each armature" I06 and'its' associated pinion I I! thus functions as a power transmitting means for engaging one of the control units 54 withthe elcmgated pinion 44 through the geartra'in or pinion gears 92 and 93. The pinions' 92, 93', and'H l arealways incontinuous meshing en'- gagement so that an immediate rotationof the gears 65 and S5 is obtained on engagement of the'pinion IIT with the elongatedpinion 44'; A fibre washer H9 (Fig. 6) is mounted about theshaft 91 between the tie plate WI and adjacent armature- I06 to substantially eliminate any" vibratory or chattering actionof 'this armature from. being transmitted into the frame means on operationof the. magnet I09 'in" an- A; C; systern:- This vibration insulating meanszvls' theionlyr one necessary. in the entire: assemblysof :the shaft; 91 and its associated: pinions 92'. and: armaturesrs I 06. The; magnets I 09': aremounted .onz ai bracket; 3 member. I23 (Fig.1) so as to=besubstantial1yr opposite their corresponding armatures I06 Member" I23. supported on. the. endplates 2].; and 22 by suitable screw means I20a'ora'thelike,

A'i. terminal panel I24" is. securedi to: the upper portion. of the bracket I23 asviewedintFig; 2;. with. the-panel being suitably insulated .fromtthe Electrical connection of the magnets:- to. the .operatingelectrical systemris thus directlys bracket.

made inimmediatev adjacence: to. the assembly position of: the magnets in thepreselector unit In-.theiconstruction of. the tuning apparatus orpreselector. unit as thus far described, it; is

seencthat the shafts 9? and Ifl hand the magnet:

support I23, whileforming component parts: of.

theppreselector. unit, function alscas. tierods in. supporting the end plates 2-! and 22' and, thus coact. with; the tie rods 23 in providing, a unit" of: simple and compact, but rugged design. It

is1seen-also that the corresponding parts for each. unit 54: are arranged longitudinally; of thepre-r selector, unit while each control .unit 59-; and. its component. parts: are arrangedtransversely. of.

thegpreselector unit.

Arelay unit I26 (Fig. 2) including; operating ..magnets |21 and I29:for, armatures I29 and: I31 respectively, is included. in the circuit of the" magnets I09 and motor 29 andoperates-tocon. trol; the; startingv and stopping. 0t. the-radio 1'8.

ceiving apparatus, as. will be explained;

Aszshown .inthe circuit diagram inFig; 8;.the. magnets I09 are arranged inparallel: between. conductors I32 and I33; which are inductively" The. motor 26 which is in driving engagement. with connected .to. a suitable. supply source I34.

the. elongated pinion, as was previously explained, is connectedinseries; with each of: the: magnets I09 so as: to be energizedconcurrently onrenergization of each magnet. It is thusseen that rotation of the-elongated pinion it occurs 1 simultaneously with the actuation of the power.-

transmitting; means I06-I I I by thetmagnetv I 095 so. that selective'operation of a control unit 54- is obtainedimmediately on closing a push button I35.

Thesradio. off button or switch ass. is'con nectedinparallel with the magnets I99 and is;

in.series connection with the magnet I29. On.

actuation of the OE switch to itsclosed position,,.

themagnet IZB-attractsthe armature I3! into a, locked positionwith an interlock member I3! so. thatthisinitial actuated position of the arma ture. I3'I is. retained. even after the ofi switch. I3'6.is.opened. The armature I3! (Figs, Zand 8). isprovided withan arm IEUWhiChiS engages able with contacts. I39 and MI, the contact I39] controlling the. circuit M2 to the radioheaters tion. Thegarrangementof'the circuits shown in Fig. 8"is such that'the' set may also be turned onbypressing any of'the tuning buttons as I35;

energizing magnet I09 and motor 26. The on" coil I21 is connected in parallel with motor 26 in a switch leaf I39A whenever the set is off, and so receives energy whenever the motor/ls energized under this condition. As soon as the latch I31 is stopped and switch I39 moves to the on position, this circuit is broken and coil I21 is deenergized.

In the operation of the preselector unit let it be assumed that the on switch I44 has been turned on. On actuation of a push button I35, which may be located remotely from the tuning apparatus, the energizing circuit for a magnet I09 is closed through conductors I32 and I33 as is also the circuit of the motor 26 which is connected in series with the magnet. Concurrently with the start of operation of the motor 26 to rotate the elongated pinion 44 through clutch means 33 and gear 43, the gear II1 on the armature I06 is moved into engagement with the pinion 44. The motor 26 is of unidirectional type and the gear train from the motor to the elongated pinion 44 is arranged so that the pinion 44, as viewed in Fig. 2, rotates in a clockwise direction, which, in turn, rotates the powertransmitting gear H1 in a counter-clockwise direction. This direction of rotation of the pinion 44 acts to pull the gear II1 into meshing engagement with the elongated pinion so that the gear H1 is locked in mesh during the tuning operation. Since this meshing engagement holds the armature I06 in its attracted position against the magnet pole face I08, a mechanical pressure urging the armature toward the pole face occurs concurrently with the electrical attraction of the armature by the pole face to aid the magnet in operating the power-transmitting means I06-I I1. The magnets I09, therefore, need only be large enough to pull the armature I06 into its attracted position against the pole face I08. This utilization of the mechanical reaction between the gears 44 and H1 provides for the use of relatively small magnets I09, since the magnet merely functions as a tripping means to initially engage the gear H1 and the pinion 44; the pulling of the gear 1 into meshing engagement with the pinion 44 being sufficient to maintain the geared or interlocked engagement between such gears so long as the pinion is rotating. The floating or spring connection of the fibre gear 43 to the pinion shaft 45 assures a positive disengagement between the gears 44 and H1 on completion of a tuning operation. A torsional force is built up in the spring 50 so that when the motor 26 is deenergized the gears 44 and I51 are thrown out of mesh by the return of the spring 50 to its free untensioned position. The constantly applied mechanical pressure on the armature I06 by the operation of the gears 44 and Ill serves further to reduce the chattering action of the armature when the magnet I06 is operating in an A. C. system.

With the pinions 92 and 93 in continuous engagement with each other and with the pinion 92 in engagement also with the gear II1, the pinions and 93 are reversely rotated so as to rotate their associated gears 65 and 65', respectively, in opposite directions on the control shaft 51. As the gears 65 and 65 are rotated, their respective projections 16 and 16, and the projections 13 and 14 on the washers 1| and 12, respectively, are moved into successive engagement in a stepped relation as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and as was previously fully described. Since the,

gears 65 and. 65 are rotated in opposite directions, their coupled engagement with the projection 11 on the adjustable collar member 16 occurs on opposite portions of the projection 11. The gear first to be coupled with the projection 11 rotates the control shaft 51 by virtue of the fixed position of the collar member 18 on the shaft 51, until both gears are in coupled engagement with the member 18. Since the driving force of the gears 65 and 65 acts on the projection 11 in opposite directions and since these opposite forces are equal to each other, the coupled engagement of both gears with the member 18 will lock the gears against any further rotation thereof and hence of the control shaft 51. This locked engagement of the gears 65 and 65' with the member 18 defines the predetermined control position of the shaft 51 and hence of the condenser 63, which is in driven engagement with the shaft 51 through gears 58 and GI, as was previously explained. Although the rotation of the motor is unidirectional, the opposite rotation of the gears 65 and 65 provides for a rotation of the control shaft and hence of the condenser in either direction, the direction of rotation being dependent upon which gear 65 or 65' is first coupled to the adjustable member 18.

To adjust the various control units 54 to a predetermined control position, screw 81 in the thrust mechanism 88 is withdrawn until the center washers or adjustable collars 1B are free to turn relative to the shaft 51. Shaft 51 is then adjusted to a desired control position by a suitable manual control knob (not shown) for the frequency-changing means 63. With the shaft in this position, a' unit 54 is operated to its locked position by pushing a button I35, while the operator holds the manual control knob and hence the shaft 51 from turning. The member 18 is thus adjusted to a predetermined control position of the shaft 51. A similar procedure is repeated for the other control units 54. During this setting operation, the members 18 are maintained in adjustment by virtue of the fact that their frictional engagement with the bushings 66 and 61 is sufficient to maintain their relative positions on the shaft 51. Spring washer 86 keeps all parts on shaft 51 always under pressure for this purpose. When all of the units 54 have been adjusted, the screw 81 is tightened whereby to frictionally look all of the members 18 in fixed positions relative to the shaft 51.

It has been noted that three washers H and three washers 12 are used in each of the control units 54. The number of washers, however, may be changed in accordance with a particular tuning structure, a larger number of washers providing for an increased driving ratio between the control unit 54 and shaft 51. This driving ratio provides for a relative free motion of the gears 65 and between their locked positions, which is commensurate to the driving ratio between the shaft 51 and condenser shaft 62. A free motion of this degree in each unit 54 conditions each unit to move the condenser through its complete tuning range, which, in the case of the usual gang condenser, is a movement of about 180. It is readily apparent, therefore, that as the driving ratio between the rotary control shaft 51 and condenser 63 is increased, the accuracy of the control unit 54 in moving the shaft 51 to a predetermined control position is increased, since the error of tuning is decreased in proportion to the increase in the driving ratio.

In "other words; the angular displacement of I the condenser {it is only a predetermined portion of that of the shaft :li'i. for any tuning operation. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, a driving ratio of .a'bout3 .1 .betweentthe shaft 51 and condenser 63 has been 'found'to give very satisfactory tuning results. "Where a=connection such as a flexible cable isused as amechanical transmission means betweena control knob anda condenser, an appreciable angular displacement occurs in the cableso as to impair the precision of the tuning operation. .In one commercial embodiment of the invention a driving ratio of 12 1 has been satisfactorily employed to reduce he ,degree of BIX'OIiin the tuning resulting from the :use of aflexible cable,

From the foregoing is will be apparent that the described arrangement, embodying the present invention, includes a drive mechanism for a selectorsystemv Preferably, the selector system is of the type which includes a plurality'ofcontrol units or selectors 54 for individually and independently positioning a controlled element, suchas shaft 51, to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors. The-driving mechanism for this preferred form of the invention comprises acommon driving member for all of the selectors, this member being the elongatedpinion M. A plurality of independent drivenzelements, namely, the sets of pinions 82, 93, are provided forindividually mechanically actuating different ones of the selectors :54 from driving member 44, but they normallyhave an interrupted-driving connection between their associated selectors and the common driving .member. The drive mechanism further includes a displaceable power-transmitting meanscomprising-the gears I I! in continuous meshing engagement with the driven elements 92, for selectively completing a driving connection between any of the selectors Stand the commondriving pinion 44 through the corresponding one of the driven elements 92, thereby selectively to actuate the selectors from the driving member 44.

While only one particularselector mechanism has been represented in thedrawings, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to that single application. If desired, any of a variety'of selectors may be actuated by the driving system disclosed herein. In applicants Patent No. 2,411,617, several different selectors areshown and anyoi them may be operated from the driving system under consideration. It will also be understood that the power-transmitting gears I ll are subject to manual displacement where this methodof operation is desirable.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Electrical rotary control apparatus adapted to be operated to a predetermined stop position, including in combination rotary driving means, rotary driven means, stop means including rotarymeans therein operatively connected to said rotary driven means, and selectively operated power-transmitting means operatively connecting said rotary driving means and the :stop means,

said power-transmitting means having rotary means therein to transmit the rotary motion of thedrivingmeans toitherotarymeans of the stop means to rotate the rotary driven means to a .predeterminedstop :position.

2.,E1ectrically-driven rotary control mechanism including in ;:combination rotary driving :means, a rotary'controlunitadapted to be operated to a predetermined stop position-said control-unit havingza pair of..-reversible gearsand stopmeans therebetweemrotatable driven-means connectedwithsaidypairof gears in'sai'd control unit and:ofrsuchsstructure as to providereversi- :ble rotarymovement .for said gears, and-power- ;t-ransmitting :means ,for said :control unit "selec- .tively operated to-selectively'and operatively connectsaidxrotary driving means with the rotatable driven "means.

:3. ,:In @electrical apparatus having a control :shaft, means for :reversely :rotating said control shaft to apredeterminedcontrol position including .a pair of rotatable *portions freely rotatable on said 1 shaft, 'a. memberon said shaft and: connectable with said pair of rotatablerportionsin' a shaft-operating position, :a;pair of rotary driven portions connected'fonconcurrent reversed rota- .tion, withieach of :said driven portions being connected iwith a corresponding rotatable -porti0n,,:a unidirectional rotary drivingmeans, and selectively I operable power-transmitting means "having a rotary portion for connecting 1 one of said driven portions with I said I driving means reversely to rotate said driven :portions, with saidrotatable portions :being reversely rotated -by;said driven portions into a :shaft operatingposition with said member.

4. In electric control -.apparatus:-l1aving, a rotary control :shaft with a :control member and a toothed member thereonwith the latter member operatively connected :with the -former -member in shaft operating position, the combination 110i .drivenggear means in continuous {engagement with the toothed member, a driving :gear means, powertransmittingimeans .movably mounted having "a gear thereon in continuous vmeshing :engagement with one of said :tvvogear means, said powertransmittingmeans including a movable member supporting. said-:gearthereon-and movable :to move said :gear therewith into "meshing engagement'with the other of saidttwo gear meansin termeshi l ly to connectrsaidatwo gear means :to drive-said-driven gear-imeans and therrotary control shaft therewith, and selectively operable means ;for operating said mower-transmitting means.

5. [=In electric control apparatus having 2a mtary control rshait aand :control member and a toothed memberithereon with the latter member operatively connected wvithrthe former member in zshaftoperating position, -:.the combination of rotary driven :means in continuous Y meshing engagementwith'the toothed member, a'motor driven driving gear, pivoted rpower tran'smitting means ahavingaa gear: thereon: in continuousmeshing engagement 'with said :rotar-y :driven means, and magnetmeans energizable topivot .the:powerr-transmitting :means andaengage" the gear thereon-With thedriving gear to drive the rotary control shaft.

r6. Control: apparatus 1 having a control unit I for positioning z a controlled element to a predetermined oontrol position. comprising, rotary driven means-in operative engagement'with said 'control unit, :a motorrdrivendriving gear' for said rotary driven means, a 'displaceable(connector having a rotary gear thereon, and actuating means for displacing said connector to engage the rotary gear thereon with said driving gear and said rotary driven means, said rotary and driving gears and said rotary driven means being arranged so that rotation of said driving gear in one direction operatively interlocks the driving gear and said rotary gear independently of a continued energization of said actuating means.

7. In control apparatus including in combination rotary driven means normally stationary until driven, rotary driving means including a rotating shaft, a driver mounted thereon, and resilient means operatively connecting said driver and said shaft, power-transmitting means movable into driving operative connection between said rotary driven means and said driving means upon application of an urging force thereon, with said rotary driving means interlocking said power-transmitting means in said driving operative connection, and said resilient means acting upon said rotating shaft upon completion of a driving operation by said shaft to disrupt said interlocking.

8. Electrically driven rotary control means having electric motive power including in com-- bination a rotary shaft, a rotary control unit having adjustable means on said rotary shaft, toothed means including a pair of oppositely rotatable gears, and lost motion coupling means operatively connecting said adjustable means and said pair of oppositely rotatable gears, and means in the control unit acting on said lost motion coupling means, on said adjustable means, and on said oppositely rotatable gears to stop the r tary shaft at a predetermined position, and means for operatively connecting said oppositely rotatable gears with the electric motive power including a pair of intermeshed oppositely rotating pinion gears with each of said pinion gears meshed with a corresponding rotatable gear, driven means including a gear adapted to be driven by the electric motive power, and a selectively operable power-transmitting means having a gear thereon in meshing engagement with one of said pinion gears to thereby drive said pinion gears and transmit motive power to the control unit to operate the same to a predetermined position for the rotary shaft.

9. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising; a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally having an interrupted driving connection between their associated selectors and said driving member; and displaceable power-transmitting means including at least one additional rotary member for selectively completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through the corresponding one of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

10. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally having an interrupted driving connection between their associated selectors and said driving member; and displaceable power-transmitting means including at least one additional rotary member for selectively completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through engagement with the peripheral portion of the corresponding one of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

11, A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally having an interrupted driving connection between their associated selectors and said driving member; and a plurality of independently displaceable power-transmitting connectors individually including an additional rotary member associated with different ones of said driven elements for selectively completing driving connections between said selectors and said driving member through said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

12. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controllel element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally having an interrupted driving connection between their associated selectors and said driving member; and a plurality of selectively operable power-transmitting connectors, each of which includes an additional rotary member associated with and movable in the plane of a different one of said driven elements, for selectively completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through the corresponding one of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

13. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising; a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating difierent ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally disengaged from said driving member; and displaceable power-transmitting means including at least one additional rotary member for selectively coupling any of said driven elements with said driving member to complete a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through the corresponding one 13 of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

14. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally having an interrupted driving connec-- tion between their associated selectors and said driving member; and a plurality of pivotally supported. and independently operable power-transmitting connectors individually including an additional rotary member for selectively completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through the corresponding one of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

15. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent rotary driven members for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally disengaged from said driving member; and a corresponding plurality of selectively displaceable power-transmitting connectors individually including an additional rotary member for individually coupling any of said driven members with said driving member, each of said additional rotary members being in continuous engagement with one of said driven and driving members and being displaceable for concurrent engagement with the other of said members to effect a mechanical coupling therebetween, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

16, A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a unidirectionally rotatable common driving gear for all of said selectors; a plurality of independent driven gears for individually reversibly actuating difierent ones of said selectors from said driving gear but normally having an interrupted driving connection between their associated selectors and said driving gear; and displaceable power-transmitting means including at least one additional gear for selectively completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving gear through the corresponding one of said driven gears, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving gear.

17. A drive mechanism for a selector system including a plurality of longitudinally spaced selectors for individually and independently positioning a controlled element to one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding in number to the number of selectors comprising: a common longitudinally extending rotary driving member for all of said selectors; a plurality of longitudinally spaced independent rotary driven elements for individually mechanically actuating different ones of said selectors from said driving member but normally disengaged from said driving member; and a corresponding plurality of power transmitting connectors individually including an additional rotary member in continuous engagement with different ones of said driven elements but selectively displaceable for concurrent engagement with said driving member for completing a driving connection between any of said selectors and said driving member through the corresponding one of said driven elements, thereby selectively to actuate said selectors from said driving member.

HAROLD F. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,184,866 Nikonow May 30, 1916 2,122,613 Koca July 5, 1938 2,246,050 Leishman June 17, 1941 

